California Knappers

Monthly Flintknapping Get-Together

The California Knappers, which began in 2010, is a knapping get-together of flintknappers who like to flake stones, learn from each other, trade for materials and meet fellow lithic knappers. The get-together is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced knappers. Anyone who is interested in the skill of making stone tools is more than welcome. We will meet one day in every month. Check this webpage for monthly dates.

Flintknapping:
Knapping is the shaping of flint, jasper, agate, chert, obsidian or other conchoidal fracturing stone through the process of lithic reduction to manufacture Stone Age tools.

"The word knap means 'to snap or break by a smart blow'. The word flintknapping was coined to describe the manufacturing of gun flints. Not all stones that can be worked into tools are flints, but the label stuck. In present day, the term is commonly and broadly used to describe the prehistoric skill and ancient craft of making flaked stone points, arrowheads and tools."
Definition by Grog Verbeck

Knapping tip of the month:
"The common and effective technique for making bifaces is soft-hammer percussion using a bone, antler, or wooden hammer, also called a billet or baton or percussor. Bifaces, including some of considerable refinement, can also be made by hard-hammer percussion. . . . . Soft, as in 'soft hammer,' just means softer than hard -- that is , antler or wood as opposed to stone -- and relatively elastic as opposed to relatively inelastic. . . . . A soft hammer is particularly useful in thinning, flattening, and shaping bifaces because it is the easiest way of removing large, relatively flat and thin flakes with small bulbs of percussion. This is because when a soft hammer strikes a core, it compressese slightly, and the force is spread out and transmitted more slowly and evenly. The kind of flakes produced by a soft hammer are necessarty if one is trying to produce a large, thin tool with extensive working and with a straight edge."
Excepts from "Flintknapping, Making & Understanding Stone Tools" by John C. Whittaker

Update on the February 26 knapping get-together:
Inspired by our last archery and atlatl shoot at the Santa Clara Archery Range in January, Troy D. immersed himself into making bows. He brought his recently made hickory bows to show to everyone at the knapping get-together. Troy also demonstrated his home-made device for determing draw length and bow weight. Nic G. also displayed his self bows. Dick B. taught how to make a bow string. Cesar P., from Legionnaire Archery, stopped by to drop off a commissioned Cherokee style bow. We had a total of 16 people come to this month's knapping get-together. A good turn out for some lively discussions on bow construction and hands-on flintknapping basics for the beginners.

Information for the NEXT California Knappers Get-together

The California Knappers get-together on March 17th is CANCELED due to rain.

Date: March 17, 2012 (Saturday)
Time: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Karl Nordvik Park, 5850 Commerce Drive, Fremont, CA 94555
The park is on the corner of Commerce Dr. and Ardenwood Blvd. We will be located across the restrooms, on the far end of the park, near a small pine tree. Look towards the children's playground. Parking is free.
Information: Contact Dino Labiste via e-mail for any questions at kahikoarts@yahoo.com
Check this webpage the night before the get-together for any last minute changes.

DIRECTIONS TO KARL NORDVIK PARK:
Heading I-880 south, take the Decoto/Dumbarton Bridge/84 exit near Fremont. Turn right onto Highway 84 headed west. Take the Ardenwood Blvd./Newark Blvd. exit. Turn right at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Parking is also available along the street. Look toward the restrooms and past the children's playground at the far end of the park. We will be located near a small pine tree.
Heading I-880 north, take the Decoto Rd. exit near Fremont. Turn left, headed west. Take the Ardenwood Blvd./Newark Blvd. exit. Turn right at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Parking is also available along the street. Look toward the restrooms and past the children's playground at the far end of the park. We will be located near a small pine tree.
Coming from the Dumbarton Bridge, headed towards Fremont, take the Newark Blvd./Ardenwood Blvd. exit. Turn left at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Parking is also available along the street. Look toward the restrooms and past the children's playground at the far end of the park. We will be located near a small pine tree.